No Black Cats move for Ireland

10 August 2008 02:23

Viewed : 0

There is no chance of Republic of Ireland international Stephen Ireland joining Sunderland, according to Manchester City manager Mark Hughes.
Recent reports had linked the 21-year-old with a move to Wearside, but Hughes says Ireland, who came on as a late substitute in the pre-season friendly against AC Milan, is going nowhere.
"I'm not quite sure what all the Stephen Ireland rumour is about," the former Wales and Blackburn Rovers boss told the Manchester Evening News.
"There was a bit of confusion about Stephen before the game against Milan, but I had a word with him before the game and explained my interpretation of it. It's been sorted out and I explained my understanding of it.
"At this time of the year a lot of agents are flying around and at times some are of a view that they can start to exercise some interest in their clients.
"Anything we've said in regards of Stephen has been misinterpreted and people have run away with it.
"He's staying. Absolutely he's staying. Sunderland has been mentioned, but there's been no contact in that respect. I'm not sure where that came from."